Skáldskaparmál

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     God of the blade of battle,
     We bear through Hákon's life-days
     The Seed of Fýri's valley
     On our arms, where sits the falcon.

Even as Thjódólfr sang:

     The king sows the bright seed-corn
     Of knuckle-splendid gold rings,
     With the crop of Yrsa's offspring,
     In his company's glad hand-grasp;
     The guileless Land-Director
     With Kraki's gleaming barley
     Sprinkles my arms, the flesh-grown
     Seat of the hooded falcon.

XLIV. "It is said that the king called Hölgi, from whom Hálogaland is named,
was the father of Thorgerdr Hölgabrúdr; sacrifice was made to both of them, and
a cairn was raised over Hölgi: one layer of gold or silver (that was the
sacrificial money), and another layer of mould and stones. Thus sang Skúli
Thorsteinsson:

     When I reddened Reifnir's Roof-Bane,
     The ravening sword, for wealth's sake
     At Svöldr, I heaped with gold rings
     Warlike Hölgi's cairn-thatch.

In the ancient Bjarkamál many terms for gold are told: it says there:

     The king most gift-gracious
     His guardsmen enriched


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     With Fenja's Labor,
     With Fáfnir's Midgard,
     Glasir's bright Needles,
     Grani's fair Burden,
     Draupnir's dear dripping,
     Down of Grafvitnir.

     The free-handed Lord gave,
     The heroes accepted,
     Sirs firm-grown tresses,
     Ice of the bow-force,
     Otter-gild unwilling,
     Weeping of Mardöll,
     Fire-flame of Órun,
     Idi's fine Speeches.

     The warrior rejoiced;
     We walked in fair garments,
     In Thjazi's counsels
     The people's host-countless,
     In the Rhine's red metal,
     Wrangling of Niflungs,
     The leader war-daring,
     Warded Baldr not.

XLV. "Gold is metaphorically termed Fire of the Hand, or of the Limb, or of the
Leg, because it is red; but silver is called Snow, or Ice, or Hoar-Frost,
because it is white. In like manner, gold or silver may be periphrased in
metaphors of purse, or crucible, or lather, and both silver and gold may be
called Hand-Stone, or Necklace, of any man who was


175

wont to have a necklace. Necklaces and rings are both silver and gold, if no
other distinction is raised.
As Thorleikr the Fair sang:

     The kindly Prince the Load casts
     Of Crucibles on the Hawk-Seats
     Of thanes, the wrists embellished,-
     Gives Embers of the Arm-Joint.

And as Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang:

     The land-strong King of Lund
     Breaks the golden Limb-Brands;
     I think the Prince of Warriors
     Lacks not the Rhine's bright Pebbles.

Thus sang Einarr Skúlason:

     The Purse-Snow and the Sea-Fire
     Lie on both sides of the axe-head
     Blood-spilling; 't is my office
     To praise our foemen's Scather.

And as he sang further:

     The Sea-Glow each day standeth
     O'er the Crucible's white Snow-Drift,
     And the shield, ships' cheeks protecting,
     Shelters a heart most lavish;
     Ne'er can one melt the silver
     Flagon-Snow in the Fire-Flame
     Of the Eel's Stream-Road; the Feller
     Of Hosts all feats performeth.



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Here gold is called Fire of the Eel's Stream-Road; and silver, Snow of Flagons.
Thus sang Thárdr Mćri's Skald:

     The glad Giver of the Hand-Waste
     Of the Gold-Minisher perceiveth
     That the Hermódr of the Snake's Lair
     Hath had a lordly father.


XLVI. "Man is called Breaker of Gold, even as Óttarr the Swarthy sang:

     I needs must use the Breaker
     Of the Battle-Glow of good men;
     Here is the watch war-doughty
     Of the Wise King assembled.

Or Gold-Sender, as Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang:

     The Sender of Gold permitteth
     The silent earth to hearken
     To song; his gifts I gather:
     The prince his young men gladdens.

Gold-Caster, as Thorleikr sang:

     Gold-Caster makes loyal to him
     His guard with kingly armor.

Gold's Adversary, as sang Thorvaldr Blending-Skald:

     The gold's foe Hot Coals casteth
     Of the Arm; the king gives red wealth;




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